Barb Mehwald retires

For Barb Mehwald, it's first things last.

After spending five years in Residential Life and Services, Mehwald will return to her roots as an educational counselor this semester. Mehwald has been named the college Health Educator.

As Health Educator, Mehwald will be responsible for creating campus programs addressing a wide range of health and wellness issues.

"I've always been holistic oriented," Mehwald said. "When I had this opportunity, I thought it was really great."

Mehwald served as acting associate dean during the Fall semester. After Deb McNish returned to Oberlin to assume the position of associate dean, Mehwald was temporarily out of a job. That didn't last long.

Assistant to the President Diana Roose said, "She suggested she'd always wanted to work as health educator and we needed one, so we said, 'let's do it.'"

Mehwald's position was created partly in order to prepare for the introduction of a new Student Health Service in Fall 1998. The new service will incorporate both educational and preventive components.

"Barb will be a bridge," Roose said.

Mehwald has already begun to plan a discussion series focused on issues related to health, including STDS and body image. She is working closely with a number of student organizations.

Mehwald is slated to retire in June. She is now busy planning her post-Oberlin College days.

"It's my next wish list," Mehwald said. "I want to do some tutoring and play more tennis."

Mehwald said she has no immediate plans to leave Oberlin.

"I love Oberlin," she said. "I'm in no big rush."

Mehwald spent Thursday night talking with a student who had just returned from Bombay. It was a conversation Mehwald relished.

"I love being with students. I've loved it. It's just that simple," Mehwald said. "It's not complicated. I love what I do."